HC Deb 21 October 1954 vol 531 cc198-9W
56. Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Education why he has refused to include a school for delicate and physically-handicapped children in Newcastle-under-Lyme in the proposed 1955–56 school-building programme for Staffordshire.

Sir D. Eccles

The Staffordshire Authority were asked to reconsider this proposal primarily because it was doubtful whether the number of delicate and physically handicapped children in the area requiring special school treatment was large enough to make an effective educational unit.

57. Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Education how many projects, and of what value, have been submitted for his approval in the proposed 1955–56 school-building programme for Staffordshire; and how many of these projects, and of what value, he has refused to include in this programme.

Sir D. Eccles

Forty-three estimated to cost about £3,047,000. Of these three have been included in the 1954–55 programme, 15 in the 1955–56 programme and five in the 1955–56 reserve programme. The outstanding 20 projects ore estimated to cost about £1,499,000.

58. Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Education how many new schools were under construction on the latest date for which figures are available and on the same date in 1953, 1952 and 1951; and how many new primary and secondary places, respectively, will be provided when the schools at present under construction are completed.

NEW SCHOOLS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
— Primary Secondary Total
Schools Places Schools Places Schools Places
1st June, 1951 … … 911 270,425 293 134,750 1,204 405,175
1st June, 1952 … … 785 227,135 276 123,505 1,061 350,640
1st June, 1953 … … 665 197,185 377 180,214 1,042 377,399
1st June, 1954 … … 537 165,745 456 227,585 993 393,330

61. Mr. Murray

asked the Minister of Education the total capital expenditure for building programmes proposed by local education authorities for the current year's programme; and how many projects did not receive his sanction.

Sir D. Eccles

I cannot add to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Member for Moss Side (Dame Florence Horsbrugh) gave on 3rd June to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas).